The Alma Inn
England East Anglia Essex
- From £90 a night
- 10 Guest Rooms & Suites
- Pub with Rooms
A proper – award-winning – pub and restaurant in the heart of Harwich, with great food, cosy rooms and a fabulous restaurant
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Bang in the centre of Harwich's rather underrated old port district, just a few steps from the quayside, this salty old inn was taken over 10 years ago by London pub and restaurant stalwart Nick May, who made it his mission to update what is an extremely historic pub without losing any of its backstreet maritime charm. And what a success he's made of it. Not only is the pub still a proper local, to which people come to sit around the bar and chat, or to read a newspaper in the corner while nursing one of the real ales on offer, but the food is some of the best pub grub you'll find in East Anglia, plus its selection of boutique rooms make a comfy place to stay whether you're to catch a ferry or just fancy a weekend away from London somewhere a bit different. Indeed, it's so popular they've added some extra rooms and a separate restaurant, Lambard's Salt House, upping the ante on the food with a six-course tasting menu that showcases the best local, seasonal, fish, seafood and meat cooked over fire.
It’s a sign of Nick’s respect for the history of the Alma that each guest room is named after a previous landlord. There are 10 to choose from, divided between those above the pub and others in the building next door. Two have baths (with showers), the rest just power showers, and each has complimentary toiletries, fluffy towels, a flatscreen TV, Nespresso machines, tea, bottles of water and biscuits. The beds are very comfortable and have luxury cotton linen, and the rooms have all been sympathetically renovated in line with the character and design of the building: re-purposed ships’ timbers perfectly complement the beams and creaky floors, and the exposed brick walls and sea-faring charts on the walls place you firmly in maritime Essex. It's a pleasing vintage-contemporary mix, with a nod to Harwich’s nautical past in every room. WiFi isn’t the best in the rooms, but it works okay downstairs.
As for the food, the Alma deliberately doesn't describe itself as a gastropub, but the fact is, its food is better than most – hearty and local, with an emphasis on fresh fish and seafood. There are Mersea oysters and local lobsters (they chalk their various sizes on the board
every day), fish and chips and seafood sharing platters; and they also serve a variety of well-hung, locally sourced steaks – like the lobster, enjoyed very simply with
chips and a choice of sauces. You can eat in
the communal front bar or the equally rustic dining room at the back – or in
the courtyard garden if the weather is behaving itself. And if you're here on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday evening, you can enjoy the more inventive but equally delicious fare they serve at Lambard's Salt House next door. This not only serves superb food across a six-course tasting menu, paired with thoughtfully selected wines, but makes it possible for the Alma to retain its proper pub-like feel. Try one of their excellent Dinner, Bed & Breakfast packages to really make the most of things here. The Alma's breakfasts are terrific, too!
There's plenty to see in Harwich itself:
lots of remnants of the town's seafaring past are scattered around the
town – the captain of the Mayflower used to live across the road;
Harwich's old sea fort, the Redoubt, is just around the corner and open
to the public; and the Boat that Rocked', the UK's oldest lightship is
docked on the quayside and available for visits. Plus regular foot
ferries can deliver you to the Shotley Peninsula and Felixstowe on the
Suffolk side of Harwich's impressive harbour.
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Facilities
Guests at the Alma are provided with superbly comfortable double beds, luxury cotton linen, flat screen TVs, Nespresso machines, stunningly equipped power showers, fluffy towels, lovely Liberty & Green toiletries, free Wi-Fi, full English breakfast and a certain amount of ‘Je ne sais quoi’. All situated above the finest pub in the Eastern Angles. All 10 rooms are totally different, taking advantage of the historical features and quirks of the ancient buildings. There are 4 standard double rooms, 2 superior doubles (both with baths) 2 rooms suitable for families, one twin room and one compact double which I personally love.
Chamber’s Chambers
The Chambers family arrived in Harwich in the 1930s and stayed innkeepers throughout two generations (Bill and Arthur) until the 1980s. Members of the family still live in the town. The standard double room has some excellent examples of mullioned medieval windows as well as some fine ships timbers, these won’t add to your night’s sleep but they look lovely. Partial sea view.
Hammond
William Hammond was the first ever Alma innkeeper as well as ferry boat agent. fish dealer, councillor and bankrupt. A jack of all trades he stayed for 5 years. There’s a pronounced slope to this standard double room so roller skating is not allowed but people with one leg longer than the other will feel right at home. If you lean out of the window you shall have the same view of the estuary that Christopher Jones the master of the Mayflower had.
Kingsford’s Cabin
Henry John Kingsford was a carpenter who fitted out the bar in 1887. We know this because he left a bit of wood with his name and date on it in a void behind some panelling. It is written on the same wood in which the cabin is panelled, in a beautiful copperplate hand. Kingsford is small, it’s compact and bijou. If you like that sort of thing it’s perfect. However if you’re oversize and like swinging cats please chose another room. No sea view without a periscope. This room may not be suitable if you have mobility issues.
Cullingham
Charles Cullingham was the merchant brewer from Ipswich who put up the money to transform the Alma from a merchant’s house to the pub we now know. The superior double room is large and has a bath as well as a shower. The double sofa bed makes it possible for this room to sleep a friendly 4. It boasts a sea view and a view of a quite charming electrical substation.
Deane
The Deanes were prominent Harwich residents, there name appears on the deeds throughout the centuries, Anthony Deane was the MP for Harwich at the same time as Samuel Pepys. The room has a side room that contains a single bed so can be used as a family room.
Spraklins Suite
The Spraklin name appears on the deeds for most of the 18th century and our attic rooms are named after them. There is one double and one twin bedroom and a bathroom taking up the whole top floor. Sea views but only at high tide. A tight staircase needs to be negotiated to reach the attic.
Newbiggin
While renovating this very room, we found an army dog tag that belonged to Joseph Newbiggin, he lived here with his family for a short while. Now you can enjoy the same view of Lambards Salt House’s garden as he did. Standard double room on first floor with wet room and a monkey.
Gardener’s Garden Room
Named in honour of the last family to own this as their home, Gardener’s Garden room is a superior double room with 4 poster, king size bed, views over the walled garden, exposed Tudor brickwork, a massive TV and the first Japanese style “sit tub” in a Harwich hotel room.
Ginger’s Garret
A garret is a habitable attic space, ours is named after the master builder of this crazy restoration project. Ginger’s garret looks out of the roof tops of Kings Head Street. The standard double room has a splendid wet room and distant sea view if looking right out the window.
NO NAME (YET)
When the innkeeper has decided what to call our twin bedded
room we will update this.
Until then we will simply say that its a room with twin beds, wet room and
charming view of chimney pots through the Velux window.
Suitable For
Everybody gets a warm welcome at the Alma, guests of all ages and species are allowed. There is a small charge for a pet to stay. This is a very old building so may not be suitable if you have mobility issues.Nearby
Harwich beach is a stones throw away, great for an early morning dip, building a sandcastle or walking the dog. The Electric Palace Cinema - one of the oldest purpose built cinemas still in operation is just down the road. There is so much history in the town, you can explore it all from the mayflower pilgrims, to forts and post medieval buildings, take time to go for a wander - you will be amazed at what you'll find.Food & Drink
Obviously the Alma has to be first choice, the best not Thai restaurant in Harwich (according to trip advisor)! Open 7 days a week. If you are here at the weekend we have our new addition, Lambard's Salt House, offering a 6 course tasting menu that changes each month. Something very new and different for the area. There are a good selection of pubs, restaurants and cafe's within walking distance.Open
Open all year.
Pricing
Double rooms from £90–£165 a night including breakfast.
Dinner, Bed & Breakfast packages at Lambard's Salt House cost around £300 a night for 2 people.
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Location
Contact Website 01255 318 681 The Alma Inn, 25 King’s Head Street, Harwich, Essex CO12 3EEGetting There
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